Preparation, structural and spectroscopic characterization of chitosan membranes containing allantoin

Abstract The use of films or membranes to treat cutaneous lesions has become a standard therapeutic procedure in the last two decades. For this reason, many polymeric materials such as chitosan, collagen, alginate, and gelatin, have been investigated to better understand their physical, chemical and biological properties. This study addresses the preparation, structural and spectroscopic characterization of chitosan membranes, chitosan with glycerol and chitosan with glycerol plus allantoin as the active principle, using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Raman and Infrared spectroscopy techniques. The insertion of the active principle allantoin in the polymer matrix was also observed using the techniques mentioned above. The results from this study showed that the chitosan membranes containing the active principle allantoin in the polymer matrix present adequate characteristics for the use in medicine as a biodegradable drug vehicle.